Road trip takes a 180-degree turn

April 02, 2012|Reuters

The Sports Xchange

NBA Team Report - Denver Nuggets - GETTING INSIDE

So much for the Nuggets having a bad road trip.

The seven-game excursion started with the Nuggets getting blown out at Utah and Minnesota. However, they've roared back to win three of four, two of the victories coming over heavyweights Chicago and Orlando.

"It's a big win," Nuggets guard Ty Lawson said after scoring 25 points in Sunday's 104-101 triumph against the Magic. "It's a momentum game for us ... if we get it rolling toward the playoffs."

The Nuggets now can have a winning trip. They conclude it Wednesday at New Orleans, the worst team in the Western Conference.

The Nuggets' recent winning ways have left them in sole possession of the No. 7 spot in the West playoff race, with eight teams qualifying. They had recently dropped to No. 9.

"I'm happy," Denver coach George Karl said after the Orlando win, expressing no reservations about the fact that the Magic's star center, Dwight Howard, was out with a back injury. "It's a great win."

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NBA Team Report - Denver Nuggets - NOTES, QUOTES

--While JaVale McGee is now Denver's starting center, Kosta Koufos has moved ahead of Timofey Mozgov to be his backup.

Mozgov's struggles have resulted in him not playing in either of the past two games. Koufos, meanwhile, has averaged 20.0 minutes in those games after having missed five straight games due to knee soreness.

"Playing defense, dunking, Kosta is a good player," G Ty Lawson said. "His knee hurts a little bit, so I respect what he's doing. He's a warrior for us. We need him to keep it going."

Koufos had six points, four rebounds and a block in 25 minutes during Sunday's 104-101 win at Orlando. Two days earlier at Charlotte, he had six points, six rebounds and a block in 15 minutes.

--When Andre Miller was knocked out of a March 19 game against Dallas due to a separated right shoulder, it was believed to be certain Miller would miss at least one game and perhaps more.

He didn't miss any games.

The reserve point guard has continued to play while wearing a protective shoulder apparatus. Nuggets coach George Karl has been amazed by Miller's toughness.

"Sometimes it looks like he's going to faint out there, the pain is so sharp," Karl said. "He looks like a fighter who has kind of been stunned. He never asks to come out, always says he can play."

While his shot has sometimes suffered, Miller has averaged 5.8 assists in the seven games since he was hurt. He had 15 points and five rebounds Sunday at Orlando.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Just being more aggressive. We've got a lot of scorers who are down ... so the last couple of games, I've been trying to be more aggressive just to get to the basket and make things happen." -- G Ty Lawson, who has averaged 23.0 points his past four games, saying one reason for the increase has been the absence of perimeter players Danilo Gallinari and Rudy Fernandez due to injury.

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NBA Team Report - Denver Nuggets - ROSTER REPORT

PLAYER NOTES:

--G Arron Afflalo has been very focused in the four games he has played since being suspended March 25 at Minnesota. Afflalo has averaged 19.5 points since being sat down, including 22 in Sunday's 104-101 win at Orlando. Afflalo had been suspended for one game due to throwing an elbow at the head of Utah G Gordon Hayward on March 23.

--F Kenneth Faried had seen his rebounding slip a bit recently, but Faried grabbed nine rebounds Sunday at Orlando, his best effort since March 17. Faried had gone seven straight games without grabbing nine rebounds after having previously gotten nine or more in 12 of 19 games.

--G Ty Lawson is in the midst of his best scoring stretch of the season. Lawson has averaged 23.0 points his past four games, including 25 Sunday at Orlando. During the stretch, Lawson also has averaged 7.5 rebounds and 5.3 rebounds, the last stat being impressive since the 5-foot-10 Lawson is only averaging 3.8 boards on the season.

MEDICAL WATCH:

--G Rudy Fernandez (back surgery) was ruled out for the regular season March 22.

--F Danilo Gallinari (left thumb fracture) was hurt March 19 against Dallas. He's out until mid-April.

--F Wilson Chandler (groin strain) did not play April 1. The extent of the injury was unknown.